Library Updates

Swap your stuff for something else at the “Education Material Swap” Saturday, January 13, 2018 from 10 – 12 p.m. at the Crown Point Library. The swap is hosted by the Friends of the Crown Point Library.

How it works:

Families/teachers will receive tickets in exchange for the curriculum to be swapped. The tickets will be used to “purchase” curriculum at the swap.

Drop off date:

Monday, January 8 between 2 – 6 p.m. at the Children’s Library desk located on the second floor. Questions? Please email Cindy Baumeister at cbaumeister@crownpointlibrary.org or call (219) 306-8068.

What kind of materials can you donate?

Textbooks, workbooks, teacher’s guides, DVDs, music CDs, educational games and puzzles, juvenile fiction and nonfiction, or other types of educational items geared towards preschool through high school. Items must be in good condition. Items donated will not be returned.

Is the swap open to the public?

Yes. Individuals who did not donate items to the swap will be able to shop from 11 – 12 p.m. on the day of the swap. Items will range from $1 -$10. All proceeds go to the Friends of the Crown Point Library Organization.

For more information please call (219) 306-8068 or visit www.crownpointlibrary.org

The Friends of the Crown Point Library present Pacific Northwest & California tour departing September 24-October 1, 2018. Come find out how you can help the Friends and travel with your “Friends” at our special TRAVEL PRESENTATION on Monday, January 15, 2018 at 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. at the Crown Point Library Meeting Room 1.

Help Provide Holiday Meals

Food for Fines Campaign – December 1 – 8, 2017

The Crown Point Community Library’s Food for Fines Campaign will focus on supplying the necessary needs to local food pantries for holiday meals. While we will accept any type of non-expired canned or packaged items, we would prefer items appropriate for a holiday meal.

Starting Friday, December 1 and ending Friday December 8, 2017, you can help by dropping off donations of canned or packaged non-perishable food items at the Crown Point Community Library. If you have an overdue fine on your account, the library is offering to waive $1.00 in overdue fines for each item you donate through us during that time (up to $20). This does not apply to lost or damaged items. Items returned must be in good condition.

The Crown Point Community Library Indiana Room is happy to say that the Crown Point Obituary Index has been updated and improved. The Obituary Index consists of the obituaries and death notices in the weekly newspaper of Crown Point. Through the hard work and dedication of the Reference staff, the index has been updated to include more years and more accurate information. The search engine itself has been improved to make searching easier and more accurate as well. There are still some years yet to be indexed, but the Indiana Room is working to complete those lists soon. For now, researchers can search the index for the following years: 1857-1933, 1940-2016. You can find the Obituary Index on the Crown Point Community Library website through the Indiana Room page https://crownpointlibrary.org/research/indianaroom/ or the Database page https://crownpointlibrary.org/database-list/. If you conduct a search and are interested in viewing the obituary, please contact the Indiana Room genealogy@crownpointlibrary.org or 219-306-4593.

Please see the following statement about the Obituary Index. It can be found on the index search page.

The Crown Point Community Library maintains a searchable index from the obituaries reported in the Crown Point Register, Crown Point Star, and The Lake County Star newspapers. The index is available online http://engagedpatrons.org/database/cpplobits/ or in the Indiana Room.

The Crown Point Community Library Indiana Room has transcribed the Crown Point, Indiana Register and Star Newspapers: Death Index August 1857 to December 1930 and it is now available on the Crown Point Community Library website as part of the Crown Point Obituary Index. Items are copied as initially entered by Marlene (Heald) VanEck unless there is a page number. The Lake County Star/newspapers did not have official page numbers until 1926; prior to that time, the dates provided are as counted from the microfilm. Please note that the date of the obituary in the newspaper does not necessarily reflect the actual date of death; many times the obituary only refers the death of the person without stating the date or day of the week. Especially in the early newspapers, there was no formal obituary column and the announcements were randomly placed within the paper. There may be errors from the original document as not all obituaries were verified. Those that were verified have been corrected to reflect the entry in the newspaper. As with a lot of genealogy research, there are misspellings of both first and last names. Spellings are recorded in the database as they appear in the newspaper. If you are not successful completing a search by entering the name, perhaps a search by letter will yield better results. It is the advice of the Indiana Room to check alternate spellings, for both first and last names, when conducting genealogy research- not only among the Crown Point Obituary Index but all databases one utilizes.

The Crown Point Community Library Indiana Room has been very fortunate to provide the Crown Point and genealogy community with the obituary index for The Lake County Star newspaper. Unfortunately, the newspaper no longer publishes obituaries on a regular basis. Recognizing that the community relies on this service we will still be updating the database annually; however, please realize that if your family member died after 2015, the chances of The Lake County Star printing an obituary is very slim.

For over 25 years, the Friends of the Crown Point Community Library (CPCL) have made it their mission to enhance and promote the use and enjoyment of both the Crown Point and Winfield Branch libraries.

The Friends provide direct financial assistance to the library through fundraising. They purchase materials and equipment not covered in the library’s general budget. They also fund cultural and educational programs, literacy and outreach initiatives and encourage gifts, endowments, and memorials for the library.

In celebration of National Friends Week, October 15 – 21, 2-17, the Friends are hosting a meet and greet event at the Winfield Branch Library. Stop by on Tuesday, October 10 between 4 and 5 p.m. to meet some of the members. Information on how to become a Friend and upcoming events will be available. Light refreshments will be served and special Halloween treats bags will be given to children (while supplies last).

As a member, you’ll be paid back in a thousand ways every year – with children’s smiles, the sincere appreciation of the library’s hardworking staff and the pure satisfaction of knowing you make a difference in your community!

The Crown Point Community Library Board of Trustees periodically reviews the budget strategy to ensure the library is being responsible and responsive to our community. At times, budgets face challenges and changes need to be made. Following the Monday, September 25, 2017 Public Hearing meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the 2018 budget which reflects a change in our budget strategy. The Crown Point Community Library (CPCL) identifies Integrity as one of our core values. This principle guides the library’s financial decision-making as the Trustees strive to be responsible with taxpayer’s money.

Beginning on October 16, 2017 the Winfield Library will have new hours. The new hours are as follows:

Closed – Sunday and Monday

10-7 p.m. – Tuesday and Thursday

10-5 p.m. – Wednesday and Friday

10-2 p.m. – Saturday

Additionally, beginning January 7, 2018, the Crown Point Library will close on Sundays.

The library will continue to provide excellent service and programming for the communities it serves. The library will also focus on new and innovative ways to support and enhance the budget and continue to work with the Friends of the Crown Point Library.

The CPCL mission states, “The Crown Point Community Library is a community center for lifelong discovery”. The Crown Point and Winfield communities are enriched by library services, and remain one of the best resources for families to save money on entertainment and education. The library welcomes everyone, and with a library card, residents have FREE access to:

Books, magazines, DVDs, music CDs and audiobooks

Use of computers and high-speed internet

Educational and cultural programs

Databases and other digital materials that may be accessed from the comforts of home

Use of meeting rooms for public and private events (some fees may apply)

As careful planning for the future is underway, the Library thanks you for your continued support for your library and its services.

Everyone loves superheroes, not just because they do great things, but also because they inspire us to be our best selves. And there’s no better place to discover and develop your superpowers than at the library.

“Build a Better World” by learning more about your community and its history with the help of the Indiana Room. Check out the display table in the Indiana Room in the Reference Department on the second floor of the Crown Point Library branch. Titled Building a City: The Architecture of Crown Point, it features historic architecture in Crown Point.

Take an I Spy a Hub City Building adventure game flyer with 9 close-up photos of architectural features located on businesses and buildings around the Square. Participants can fill out the game flyer for a chance to win 1 hour of research assistance on genealogy or other historical research. Correctly identify the places and turn the game flyer into the Reference Department. Winner will be randomly drawn on August 1st.

Learn more about the cemeteries in Center and Winfield Townships with a self-guided tour brochure Wandering with those Before Us: The Cemeteries of Center and Winfield Townships. There is also a mini-display with further reading about cemeteries in general and those on the tour, both available in the Indiana Room.

While visiting the Indiana Room, you could also explore the books, old newspapers, city directories, and other items in the room about Crown Point, Lake County, and Indiana.

Take your learning home and visit the Indiana Room’s online blog If Solon Could See Us Now?https://crownpointlibrary.org/research/indianaroom/if-solon-could-see-us-now/ Or, if you are on Twitter you can follow the Indiana Room @CPCL_INRoom for tweets on genealogy, preservation, and history. Any questions, please contact the Indiana Room genealogy@crownpointlibrary.org or 219-306-4593.